CHARLESTON, W.Va. (May 18, 2020) – The West
Virginia Youth Environmental Program (YEP) will present close to $15,000 in
cash awards to groups from around the state for their efforts this past year to
better the environment in the Mountain State.
Sponsored by the West Virginia Department of
Environmental Protection (WVDEP), the YEP consists of 4-H clubs, scout troops,
school groups and other youth organizations who focus on completing
environmental projects that benefit the state and their communities. Some of
those projects include recycling drives, litter cleanups and tree plantings.
During the past year, YEP groups worked
thousands of hours to remove 760 bags of litter from more than 100 miles of
West Virginia roadways and community areas. They also planted 241 trees, more
than 2,000 flowers and recycled 34,000 pounds of aluminum, 66,000 pounds of
plastic, 127,000 pounds of steel and 102,000 pounds of paper.
Normally, YEP award winners are recognized
annually during Youth Environmental Day at North Bend State Park. This year’s
event, scheduled for May 16, was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was
the first time in 57 years Youth Day had to be cancelled.
“I know all of our groups are as sad as I am
to not have attended Youth Day,” YEP Director Annette Hoskins said. “I
certainly missed seeing everyone and not having the opportunity to thank them
in person for all of their hard work in making West Virginia a better place to
live.”
Among the individual award winners was Point
Pleasant High School’s Josie Hill, who will receive the $10,000 Rick Vecellio
Memorial Scholarship, given annually to a high school senior enrolled in the
YEP.
For a complete list of award winners, click here.
For more information about the awards and
their sponsors, click here.
For more WVDEP news and
information, go to www.dep.wv.gov. Also, connect with the agency on
all social media platforms. Follow @DEPWV on Twitter, Like us on Facebook
at https://www.facebook.com/depwv/, and find us on YouTube by
searching “Environment Matters.”
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